University of St. Augustine plans to bring Doctor of Physical Therapy program to Miami

The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences plans to bring its Doctor of Physical Therapy program to Miami in fall 2015, pending accreditation and other regulatory approvals. The university, which has been a part of north Florida for more than 20 years, will open its new campus near the Dolphin Mall.

Shortage of Physical Therapists
There is a strong demand for physical therapists, a profession ranked No. 6 on the list of "best jobs" by U.S. News & World Report. There is also strong demand for more cultural diversity in the profession.

According to the American Physical Therapy Association's projections, when the University of St. Augustine's inaugural Miami class would graduate in 2018, the demand for physical therapists in the United States will exceed the supply by 21,000. Job growth is also expected to be strong in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties: 18.9% combined between 2014 and 2022 according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

"With a campus in Miami, we aim to improve access to physical therapy education and increase cultural diversity, which benefits the profession and the patients it serves," said Dr. Wanda Nitsch, president and chief academic officer of the University of St. Augustine.

Accreditations
The university is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission and is nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Accrediting Commission, both of which have approved the Miami campus. The campus has received provisional licensure from the Florida Commission for Independent Education and is seeking approval from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE); the class start will be finalized once CAPTE has approved.

SOURCE University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences